Household contents insurance — Hausratversicherung in German, assurance ménagein French — covers everything in your home that isn't bolted to the walls. Your furniture, clothes, electronics, kitchen equipment, jewelry, bikes, books, and decorative items. If any of it is damaged, stolen, or destroyed, this policy pays to replace it.
It's not legally required in Switzerland, but it is almost universal. For CHF 10–25 per month, you protect assets that for most households total CHF 60,000 to CHF 150,000. This guide explains what's covered, how to calculate the right sum insured, and how to avoid the mistakes that cause underpayment at claim time.
Hausrat vs. building insurance
What Hausrat covers
A standard policy pays for damage to your belongings from:
- Fire, smoke, and lightning— including damage from firefighters' water
- Water damage — burst pipes, overflowing bathtubs, leaking dishwashers (but usually not flooding from outside)
- Natural disasters — storms, hail, avalanches, landslides, rockfall (mandatory in Switzerland, included by law)
- Theft at home — if someone breaks in and steals items
- Simple theft outside the home — if added as a rider (your bike stolen from a bike rack, bag stolen from a restaurant)
- Glass breakage — often as an optional rider; covers windows, glass tables, ceramic cooktops, shower screens
What's usually NOT covered by default
- Simple theft outside the home (optional add-on)
- Damage you cause yourself (clumsy accidents)
- Wear and tear or gradual damage
- Damage from pets
- High-value single items above a sub-limit (usually CHF 20,000 for jewelry)
- Items used for business purposes
Add simple theft outside
How to calculate the sum insured
This is where most people get it wrong. The sum insured should equal the replacement value of all your belongings — meaning what it would cost today to buy everything brand-new, not what you paid originally or what a second-hand buyer would pay now.
Here's a rough guide by household type:
| Household type | Typical replacement value |
|---|---|
| Studio apartment, single person | CHF 30,000 – 50,000 |
| 2-room apartment | CHF 50,000 – 70,000 |
| 3.5-room apartment, couple | CHF 70,000 – 100,000 |
| 4.5-room apartment, family | CHF 100,000 – 140,000 |
| House, family of four | CHF 120,000 – 180,000 |
For a precise number, walk through each room and write down what it would cost to replace everything. Don't forget:
- All electronics (laptop, TV, phones, cameras, speakers)
- Kitchen equipment (pots, pans, dishes, small appliances)
- Clothes (often 30–40% higher than people guess)
- Bikes, sports equipment, ski gear
- Books, records, art
- Jewelry and watches
- Furniture, rugs, curtains, lamps
Underinsurance penalty
Typical costs
Household contents insurance is priced based on your sum insured, canton, and optional riders. Rough benchmarks:
- CHF 60,000 insured: CHF 10–15 per month
- CHF 100,000 insured: CHF 14–22 per month
- CHF 150,000 insured: CHF 20–30 per month
Premiums vary by canton because of different natural-disaster exposure. Cantons prone to flooding or hailstorms tend to have slightly higher premiums.
Bundling with personal liability
Most insurers sell Hausrat as a bundle with personal liability insurance. The combined package is 10–15% cheaper than buying them separately, and claims management is easier with one insurer. A typical combined package:
- Single person, CHF 60,000 contents, CHF 5m liability: ~CHF 18/month
- Couple, CHF 100,000 contents, CHF 10m liability: ~CHF 30/month
- Family, CHF 140,000 contents, CHF 10m liability: ~CHF 40/month
Deductible (Selbstbehalt)
Standard deductibles range from CHF 200 to CHF 500 per claim. A higher deductible saves a few francs per month but rarely meaningfully. Stick with CHF 200 or CHF 300 for everyday peace of mind.
Special items: jewelry, art, collections
Most standard policies cap payouts for jewelry and valuables at around CHF 20,000 to CHF 30,000 total. If you own a watch collection, fine art, or similar high-value items, you need to:
- Declare individual items above the sub-limit
- Request an increased sub-limit (Valorenlimit)
- Or add an "all-risk" (Allrisk) rider for specific valuables
Keep photos, receipts, and appraisals in cloud storage — insurers ask for proof at claim time.
What to do after damage or theft
- Secure the scene — stop further damage (turn off water, board up windows)
- Call the police for any theft. Insurers require a police report for claims.
- Document everything — photos, videos, lists of damaged items
- Contact your insurer within the deadline stated in your policy (usually 3–7 days)
- Don't throw anything out until the adjuster has inspected it
Common mistakes to avoid
- Underinsuring to save a few francs — leads to pro-rata reductions at claim time
- Forgetting to update after major purchases or a move to a bigger place
- Skipping simple theft outside — bike and phone theft are the most common claims
- Not reading the exclusions — many policies exclude gradual water damage or business equipment
- Losing receipts for expensive items — makes proving value harder
Next steps
Most Swiss households end up with a liability + contents bundle from providers like Mobiliar, AXA, Zurich, or Helvetia. Expect to spend about CHF 25–40 per month for solid family coverage.
Not sure which sum insured fits your household? Take our free risk analysis — it asks about your living situation, size, and possessions to recommend the right coverage level.